Mercer County Library Blog

Many people have their own special traditions for Halloween night, like taking their kids trick or treating, going to Halloween parties, or watching a horror movie marathon. One of my traditions is to read at least one new scary short story. Even if you have other things to do, reading a truly well-crafted short horror story can get you in the Halloween mood like nothing else. I’ve always thought that the short story is a better literary medium for horror than the novel because, being short and compact, they can be more viscerally scary. In just a few pages drawing you in and leading you into a shocking revelation or a terrifying twist ending. I want to keep it short for this post so I’m sharing just a few selected recommendations for Halloween short stories, both classic and new, that you can read on Halloween night for a terrifying thrill. I’ll start with Edgar Allen Poe, who is of course well-known as the nineteenth-century American master of short horror stories. If you’ve neve...

It’s hard to believe that Halloween is already here! If you’re anything like me, sometimes holidays just sneak up on you – and you realize that you’re out of time to prepare. Don’t worry, the library has you covered with some last-minute ideas to ensure your ghostly celebration is a hit! Costumes Creativebug offers a wide range of high-quality crafting tutorials; just log in with your library card number to check out some last-minute costume ideas for you or a young person in your life. Whimsical Felt Beards are the key for an Abraham Lincoln or lumberjack costume – or get creative and go for a hot pink beard full of birds! Throw on your favorite green outfit and add a Felt Flower Headband for a quick floral look Customize your plumage with the Quick and Easy Bird Costume   Pair zombie makeup with regular clothes for an instant costume or try some of the other classic Halloween faces in this Face Painting tutorial Ambience What’s Halloween without a creepy soundtrack?...

Bug boy. That’s what we’ve called James, my oldest son who is now 17, since he was little. He has always been fascinated by bugs of all kinds, and spiders have been a favorite of his. We’ve learned over the years that he’s a little unusual in this regard. There are a lot of people out there who really don’t like spiders! I get it – they have lots of little legs and lots of eyes and creep around and some can even bite you. But, James has helped me grow fond of them and I truly believe that the more people learn about these fascinating little creatures, the more they’ll grow to love them – or at least not freak out at the sight of them.   Thanks to James, there are four pet spiders in our home – a pink toed tarantula and 3 wolf spiders. Two of the wolf spiders he has raised from slings.  “Sling” or “spiderling” is what a baby spider is called.  Doesn’t that make them seem a little bit cuter already??  It turns out spiders are pretty easy pets.  They’re not messy a...

Dive into Game Development Can you learn to make video games from reading books? Or does it all have to happen on the computer? While it’s true that you can’t make video games without a computer (or at least a smartphone), many game designers plan out their game rules on paper. Game artists, too, may sketch with traditional tools before going digital, and for those interested in a career as a game developer, a lot has to happen in the "real world." Even for the stages of video game development that must happen digitally, books can provide not only a very organized and easily perusable way of learning, but also help to break up all that screen time. And while coding classes can be very expensive, with only your MCLS library card you can access numerous books and also free online resources. For every step of the game creation process, from brainstorming to final release, the Mercer County Library System collection and Virtual Branch have you covered. Whether you’re looking t...

There is a phrase that has been used forever that says “you can’t judge a book by its cover.” But, often there are times where people decide to pick up a book and read it simply because of its cover. Think about it. You’ve just finished a book and now you are in your local branch of the Mercer County Library System. As you look at the titles of the new books on display, what might catch your eye? Most likely, the cover. On the Behind the Books podcast that my colleague Anna and I put together for MCLS, we often get a chance to talk to authors about books they are about to have published. And one of the big events leading up to publication is the cover reveal. It amazes us that quite often, especially with picture books and children's books, the author has very little input into what the cover will look like. When a book has an eye-catching cover, it can certainly lead to a reader picking the book up and taking a look. Granted, it doesn’t always mean the person who picks it up is ...

I’ve been to some fascinating places, but never before Europe. Quite possibly, while you are reading this, I’ll be in Paris! While many people visit Paris in the summer, I’m looking forward to the crisp air of fall, fewer crowds, and I won’t even mind the occasional rain. What makes it even more special is that I’m going with my three siblings to visit our French relatives.  We are looking forward to getting a personal tour of the city and its history. I don’t know too much about Parisian history, but I am relying on the library system’s expansive selection of nonfiction materials, and even novels, to learn more. Here are just a few interesting titles: Paris: Secret Gardens, Hidden Places, and Stories of the City of Light by Mary Sperling McAuliffe This multilayered exploration of Paris weaves a narrative that takes the reader into secret and hidden places, even amid the most well-known Paris destinations. Top 10 Paris by DK Publishing, Inc. Capital of romance and revolution, a maz...